Global Design Firm Populous’ New York Office Finds its New Home in The Starrett-Lehigh Building
RXR Realty’s Starrett-Lehigh Building; image provided by RXR.
NEW YORK – November 18, 2019 – Global designers Populous, the firm behind such iconic buildings as Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Allianz Field, and Tottenham and Wembley Stadiums, signed a lease that will move its New York offices to The Starrett-Lehigh Building at 601 West 26th St. in the West Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. The 4,800 square foot lease represents the upward trajectory of the New York office and a significant expansion from the firm’s original space at 475 Fifth Ave. Populous will join a high-profile roster of local, national, and internationally renowned leaders in fashion, the arts, media and technology who find inspiration in The Starrett-Lehigh Building’s artisan environment and historic character. The firm has completed its design for its 17th floor space and is set for relocation in April 2020.
“We opened our New York office four years ago to lead design efforts for sports, entertainment and performance venues across the country and around the world. We’ve pushed the boundaries of design and created memorable experiences for the spectators that occupy our buildings,” said Jonathan Mallie, senior principal of Populous, head of its New York office and one of the lead designers of Barclay’s Center prior to his joining the firm. “One of the most rewarding aspects of our New York presence has been the influx of dynamic, highly skilled innovators and experts that have joined our team. We are making sure our office environment inspires our team and supports excellence in design.”
A CBRE team of Evan Fiddle, Michael Movshovich, Mary Ann Tighe, and Katja Volz represented Populous while Daniel Birney and Denise Rodriguez represented RXR in-house.
“It was a true pleasure working with Populous to find a new office to accommodate their growing NY team. Seeing how they work creatively and collaboratively on some of the most unique projects in the world, it’s no surprise that they chose The Starrett-Lehigh Building as their new home,” said Movshovich of CBRE. “While it is a large building, it seamlessly accommodates both small and large offices with distinctive spaces and its vibrant community of like-minded creative people.”
The Starrett-Lehigh Building — designed by Cory & Cory Architects, constructed in 1931 and purchased by RXR Realty in 2011 – is home to many global leaders in fashion, design, the arts, media and technology. The building is undergoing a retail repositioning and will soon feature an elevated food and beverage program. Starrett-Lehigh is adjacent to the 26th Street entrance to the High Line and convenient to Hudson Yards and transportation options, including a short walk to one of the main transportation hubs in New York City in Penn Station.
“The West Chelsea neighborhood is known to attract next-generation creative minds which will help fuel the Populous engine as its New York office continues on its strong growth trajectory,” added Mallie. “We’re excited to move to a location that takes advantage of the vibrancy of the West Side and adjacencies with the High Line and Hudson Yards as we look ahead to ‘Populous New York’s 2.0’.”
The Starrett-Lehigh Building offers tenants flexible layouts, light filled, loft-style open floor spaces, double height ceilings with enormous windows and impressive river and skyline views. The new Populous space will feature workstations for up to 30 employees along with open collaborative workspaces, conference rooms and private offices.
About Populous
Populous is a global design firm that designs the places where people love to be together, like Yankee Stadium, the London Olympics, and the Super Bowl. Over the last 36 years, the firm has designed more than 3,000 projects worth $40 billion across emerging and established markets. Populous’ comprehensive services include architecture, interior design, event planning and overlay, branded environments, wayfinding and graphics, planning and urban design, landscape architecture, aviation and transport design, hotels and hospitality, and sustainable design consulting. Populous has 18 offices on four continents and more than 600 employees with regional centers in Kansas City, London and Brisbane.
About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2018 revenue). The company has more than 90,000 employees (excluding affiliates) and serves real estate investors and occupiers through more than 480 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CBRE offers a broad range of integrated services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.
About RXR Realty
RXR Realty LLC (“RXR”), is a New York-based, vertically integrated real estate operating and development company with expertise in a wide array of value creation activities, including distressed investments, uncovering value in complex transactions, structured finance investments and real estate development. RXR’s core growth strategy is focused on New York City and the surrounding region. The RXR platform manages 74 commercial real estate properties and investments with an aggregate gross asset value of approximately $20.4 billion, comprising approximately 25.6 million square feet of commercial operating properties and approximately 6,200 multi-family and for sale units in various stages of development in the New York Metropolitan area.
